If you're one of Daryl Dixon's many female fans who are hoping he hooks up with Beth or Carol soon, I have potentially bad news for you ... depending on how you like to a view a challenge. According to Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, our favorite poncho-wearing, squirrel-and-snake-gnawing, crossbow-totin' redneck may not exactly be interested in re-populating the zombie-apocalypse-ravaged planet. Because he, you know ... doesn't like girls. I mean he likes girls, he just may not LIKE like girls.

In the letter section of The Walking Dead comic book issue No. 130, Kirkman responded to a fan who pointed out similarities between Daryl and Jesus -- not, um, Jesus Christ, but a badass character from the comics who happens to be gay. When asked if it's possible Daryl could also prefer men, Kirkman wrote,

All I can say is that it’s been discussed. We have very specific ideas about Daryl’s sexuality (or the seeming lack thereof), and if there’s ever a quiet period in the show where he’s not consistently distracted by crossbowing ... we’ll tackle it in the show.

Kirkman added that AMC would have no objections to this plot development:

For the record, they absolutely would (allow it).

Well, well, well. Very interesting, Mr. Kirkman. He may be referring to Daryl's complicated family background (his parents were both neglectful alcoholics, his father abused him, his mother died when he was young and he essentially had to fend for himself), which has made it hard for him to connect with anyone, much less delve into a romantic relationship, or ... maybe they always have planned for him to be a gay character.

Personally, I think it'd be fascinating to see that play out. It feels like it would be a surprising-but-not-remotely-unbelievable revelation for his character, although the show has never prioritized romance in general so I'm not sure anyone but the fangirls really care who he hooks up with. As one Walking Dead viewer put it,

The only bolt I care about is the one in his crossbow. It makes no never mind to me what his preferences are.